Pneumatic fan.



N0. 835,782. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906. J. L. GREVELING.

PNEUMATIC FAN.

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PNEUMATIC FAN.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 18. 1901.

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UM Jen: 7'70/F/V/5Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

JOHN L. OREVELING OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SAFETY CAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC FAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed November 18,1901. Serial No. 82,716-

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN L. CREVELING, a 1

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Fans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fans. One of the objects thereof is to provide a fan of simple construction and efficient running qualities.

Another object is to provide a pneumatic fan of the above nature in which the air is utilized not only as a source of power, but as an effective means of ventilation.

Another object is to provide a pneumatic fan which may be readily maintained in a thoroughly lubricated state under conditions of high speed and pressure and inwhich the air is economically used.

Other objects Will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinaften lhe invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arran ement of parts which will be exemplified in t e construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, -Wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention, Figure. l is an end view thereof. Fig. 2 is a central sectional elevation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout both views of the drawin s.

n order that certain dominant aims and features" of this invention may be readily grasped, it may here be noted that if it be attempted to utilize the motive fluid of a pneumatic fan forventilation purposes there is a tendency of -the same to become merely whirled out by centrifugal force and being in general of a relatively cool character to settle to the floor immediately adjacent the fan, and thus become practically valueless with regard to the end in view. This is particularly true in cases analogous to railway-cars,

speed necessitates for eflicient use an abundant lubrication of the bearings, and" the high pressure under which the fan acts tends to blow oil from the bearings and interfere with lubrication, as well as waste the air. The above and other defects are eliminated and many advantages attained in constructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

' Referringnow to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a support (1, comprising a central casing b and a skirt 0, adapted to fit against the wall. Leading to casing b is an air-supply pipe d, whichmay be connected with the air-braking system of a train should the fan be used in such relation. Threaded within support a is a casting e, having in turn threaded therein a bushing fand provided with an oil-receptacle g, substantially of the form shown. Formed within oil-chamber g is a sleeve h, which-serves as a bearing for the end is of a hollow shaft 7', these parts conjointly constituting a fluidtransmitting means for the fan, as hereinafter described. It may here be noted, however, means as used throughout the following claimsis sufliciently broad to cover a conduit of whatever character. The bearing of shaft is within sleeve h is preferably somewhat loose, and any air leaking through the same is permitted to escape through a vent g in chamber g, thus preventing any accumulation of pressure therein and consequent tendency to blow oil from the main bearing of the shaft within the fitting e', as shown in the drawings. Shafty' is preferably formed of steel or other material adapted to withstand the wear to which this part is subjected in use; but the part 7c is composed of bronze or the like to adapt it to withstand the efiect of any moisture which may be present-in the air passing the same. The lubrication of the bearing of extension is is brought about through a rawhide washer m, resting against a shoulder 1, formed upon the shaft and held at its outer edges against the casting e by the above-described bushing f A wick 0, one end of which dips within the lubricant in oilchamber g, contacts at its upper end with the washer m and by capillary action supplies oil thereto. This oil 1s carried by the. slight amount of air leaking past the washerm into the bearing of extension is, and thus maincoact with the jets of the preceding blade and tains this part in a thoroughly lubricated condition, any excess of lubricant being re I turned from the inner end of the sleeve ii to l the oil-chamber 5 Formed upon shaft j is a I shoulder p, adapted to engage the inner end I of the fitting i, and thus serve as a bearing to take up the thrust exerted upon the shaft by the incoming air. The latter bearing, as l well as the main bearing of shaft j, are lubri- 1 cated from van oil-cup by means of wicks r i and s, the former being spring-pressed into operative relation to the shaft, as shown in the drawings.

Threaded upon the outer end of the shaft j i is a four-arm fitting or fan-head t, the joint being covered by a shield it, provided with a vent 1. Through each arm of the fan-head t is formed a passage 11", and mounted thereon are fanblades .r, the shape of which is best shown in Fig. l of the drawings. To each arm of head if is connected a tube i provided with a cap 2, in which are formed dischargeports 1, through which the reactive jets are effected for the propulsion of the fan. These jets, as will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, are so disposed and directed as each to discharge within the path of the following blade, and thus be engaged thereby and forcibly thrown in a direction parallel to the shaft of the fan. .Eacli fan-blade, moreover, is formed with a lateral extension 3, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to adapt the same to act substantially exclusively thereon.

The operation of the above-described embodiment of my invention is substantially as follows: Air being supplied through pipe (1, the same passes through the bushing f and thence through the composite shaft comprising ,menilers and It to the fan-head. From this point the air is carried out in a ra- (llfildllttilmt and discharged, as above set forth, exactly within the sweep of the follow ing blade, 11 Min which it impinges and by which it is tnrown in the desired direction. Each set of discharge-jets thus supplies the following blade with air upon which to act, and the same acts upon this fresh outer air rather than upon the foul air of the room, which would otherwise be supplied thereto by the partial vacuum in the rear of the preceding bladc. In this manner a column of substantially pure air is forcibly thrown into the room and results in a highly uniform and efficient ventilation thereof. The shape of the fan-blade, moreover, is such as to coact withthese discharge-jets and enhance the effectiveness of the above action. Any tendency to blow the lubricant from the bearing adjacent the source of air-su ply results merely in forcing an additiona amount of lubricant into the same from the saturated washer m, and any excess of oil is automatically returned to the oil-cup. The main bearing of shaft 7' is thus protected from the effect of the air by the vented cup 9 and is thoroughly lubricated by the capillary means above set forth, which are substantially unaffected either by air-pressure or gravity. The action of the airpressure, moreover, upon the oil-soaked Washer 17 tends to cause the same to hug the end of the rotating shaft more closely, and thus more efficiently seal the joint between the same and the member in which it is journaled.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a device in which the several aims of my invention are achieved and in which the aboveenumerated advantages are, among others, present in. a marked de ree. The entire mechanism is of simple and inexpensive con struction, automatically maintains itself in a thorougiily-lubricated condition. and is char acterized by an efficient and economical use of the fluid supplied thereto.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely-different embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat-- ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as ill strative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language, used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a pneumatic reaction-fan, the combination of fan-blades provided with channels or conduits provided for the exit of air and. a compound hollow shaft carrying the fanblades, a bearing and a washer of rawhide or other absorbent material barring the assage to the bearing, the portion of the s aft in contact with the said washer being of bronze or other diflicultly-oxidizable material.

2. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, fluid-transmitting means, revolubly-mounted fluid-discharging means connected therewith, and means comprising a rotary fan connected with and adapted to be driven by said discharging means, said dischargin means being directed into the path of trave of a blade of the fan.

3, In apparatus of the class described, in combination, fluid-transmitting means, revolubly-mounted fluid-discharging means (TOH': nected therewith, and means comprising a rotary fan connected with and adapted to be driven by said discharging means, said discharging means being ositioned within the path of travel of a bla e of said fan and dischargin in a direction substantially parallel to the p ane of its movement.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, fluid-trai'ismitting means, revoluhly mounted fluid-discharging means connected therewith, the point of discharge thereof being spaced from its axis of revolution, and means comprising a rotary fan connected with and adapted to be driven by said discharging means and having a blade enlarged at a distance from the axis substantially corresponding with said spacing of the point of discharge, said fluid discharge means being directed into the path of travel of a bladeof the fan.

5. In apparatus of the class described, m combination. fluid-transmitting means, revolubly-mounted fluid-discharging means con nected therewith, the point of discharge thereof being spaced from its axis of revolution, and means comprising a rotary fan connected with and adapted to be driven by said discharging means and having blade enlarged at a distance from the axis substantially corresponding with said spacing of the oint of discharge, said discharging means JGlHg positioned within the path of travel of said enlarged blade of said fan and discharg ingin a direction substantially parallel to the plane of its movement.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in I combination, rotary luid-driven means, a hollow shaft upon which said means are mounted adapted to transmit fluid thereto, a member through which said shaft passes toward a source of compressed-fluid supply, and means comprising a flexible washer held against said member and extending over said shaft adapted to permit the entry of said fluid within said shaft and to tend to prevent its passage between said shaft and said member.

7. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, rotary fluid-driven means, a

hollow shaft upon which said. means are mounted adapted to transmit fluid thereto, a member through which said shaft passes toward a source of compressed-fluid supply, means comprising a flexible washer held against said member and extending over said shaft ada ted to permit the entry of said fluid within said shaft and to tend to prevent its passage between said shaft and said member, an oil-chamber through which said shaft passes, and means adapted to feed oil from said chamber to sald washer.

8. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, rotary flUlClrdIlVCIl means, a hollow shaft upon which said means are mounted adapted to transmit fluid thereto, a member through which said shaft passes toward a, source of compressed-fluid suppl a vented oil-chamber through which said shaft passe s upon the outer side of said chamber, a bearing within which said shaft is journaled upon the outer side of said oil-chamber, and means adapted to transmit oil from said chamber to the inner side of said member adjacent said shaft.

9. in apparatus of the class described, in combination, rotary fluid-driven means, a hollow shaft upon which said means are mounted adapted to transmit fluid thereto, a member through which said shaft passes toward a source of compressed-fluid supply, and means comprisin a flexible washer held against said member and extending over said shaft adapted topermit the entry of said fluid within said shaft and to tend to prevent its passage between said shaft and said member, said shaft bein provided with a hollow projection passing t irough said washer.

JOHN L. CREVELING. Witnesses:

HENRY W. KIRALFY, Gno. E. MORSE. 

